Bay aims to end regional losing streak

Blythe Carpenter doesn’t have to tell her team what it already knows.

Bay has played Pensacola Washington in each of the past three Region 1-4A girls soccer tournament openers. Washington has won each meeting.

The Tornadoes (15-6-1) have improved in every match against the Wildcats (15-4-4), including losing 2-1 in double overtime last season. But Bay remains 0-4 all time against Washington in the regional. The latest meeting takes place 7 p.m. Thursday at Tommy Oliver Stadium.

“I’m not trying to play up the whole jinx thing because that’s not a good way to approach any game against a quality team,” Carpenter said. “The girls are determined. We believe we can win, and it’s all just a matter of executing.”

Carpenter said the Tornadoes understand the importance of the match, and are well aware of the program’s past against Washington. She believes, however, they also possess the ability to focus only on the present and not a bleak historical footnote.

“The only thing I’m concerned with is if we can come out and play consistently,” Carpenter said. “I’ve seen this team play some excellent soccer, but I’ve also seen them struggle at times.”

Bay did some of both in Friday’s District 2-4A tournament championship against county rival Arnold. The Tornadoes squandered early opportunities and had to hang on through two overtimes and two shootouts to win their third straight district title. That earned them the right to host at least one regional match.

“The win last week helped us because it never hurts to win championships, it never gets old,” Carpenter said. “It was obvious both teams wanted it and it was a great back-and-forth match.”

Arnold’s consolation prize is another trip to perennial power Gulf Breeze (15-6-1), which defeated Washington 1-0 for the District 1-4A title last week. Arnold (9-8-2) has been outscored 12-0 by Gulf Breeze in the past two regional openers.

Bozeman, in Region 1-2A, is the only other area school still alive. The Bucks (7-4-1) are in the same situation as county mates Arnold and Bay in that they meet a familiar foe in the first round.

They will travel to Tallahassee Maclay for the third consecutive year. Maclay (14-3-2) won the two previous regional openers against Bozeman 9-1 and 3-0.